Selling routes
Alternatives to Rightmove & Zoopla
The main alternatives to Rightmove and Zoopla are OnTheMarket (the third big portal), online and hybrid estate agents, Facebook and local community groups, traditional independent agents, property auctions, and selling directly to a cash buyer — which needs no portal listing at all. The honest caveat: Rightmove and Zoopla carry the overwhelming majority of UK buyers, so listing off them usually means fewer viewings. The main reasons to use an alternative are privacy, an off-market sale, or speed.
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The alternatives, ranked by reach
1. OnTheMarket
The UK's third major portal. Some agents list here exclusively under its "list with one portal" rules, so you'll find homes on OnTheMarket that aren't on Rightmove or Zoopla. Useful, but its audience is smaller — most buyers still start on the big two.
2. Online & hybrid estate agents
Firms like the online agents charge a lower, often fixed fee. Note: most of them still list your home on Rightmove and Zoopla — so they're a cheaper way onto the big portals, not an alternative to them. The trade-off is a more self-service experience. See finding agents not on the portals.
3. Facebook & local community groups
Local "for sale" and community Facebook groups, and word of mouth, cost nothing and can find a local buyer — especially for affordable or unusual homes. Reach is narrow and you handle enquiries and viewings yourself.
4. Traditional independent agents (off-portal)
A few local independents market through their own window, database and website rather than the portals. Fine for a strong local brand, but you're trading national exposure for local reach.
5. Property auctions
Auction houses market to investors and cash buyers through their own catalogues. Fast and certain once the gavel falls, but the price depends on bidding and fees apply — best for investment or hard-to-mortgage stock. See how modern auctions work.
6. Selling directly to a cash buyer (no listing at all)
If the reason you're avoiding the portals is privacy or speed, a genuine cash house buyer purchases your home off-market — no listing, no viewings, no portal — completing in 7–28 days at 75–85% of market value. It's the only route that genuinely needs no Rightmove or Zoopla at all.
How the alternatives compare
| Route | Buyer reach | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rightmove + Zoopla (via any agent) | Highest | Agent fee / fixed fee | Open-market (months) |
| OnTheMarket | Medium | Agent fee | Open-market |
| Facebook / local groups | Low–local | Free | Variable |
| Auction | Investor-focused | Auction fees | 6–10 weeks |
| Cash buyer (off-market) | Direct, no listing | £0 fees | 7–28 days |
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Written & reviewed by Lisa Hayes, Founder
Lisa Hayes is the founder of Ready Steady Sell and an independent UK home-selling expert with over a decade helping homeowners weigh cash house buyers, property investors and the wider fast house-sale industry — without pressure or hidden fees. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy under our editorial standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
What is the best alternative to Rightmove and Zoopla?
OnTheMarket is the main portal alternative, but it reaches fewer buyers. To skip portals entirely (for privacy or speed), selling directly to a cash buyer needs no listing and completes in 7–28 days.
Can I sell my house without Rightmove or Zoopla?
Yes — via OnTheMarket, online/local agents, Facebook groups, auction, or a direct cash buyer. Just expect fewer buyers off the two big portals, unless you take the off-market cash route.